I downloaded the Patreon app to listen to podcasts. Regardless of who is to blame from my perspective their imperfect app provides a better user experience than Firefox or Chrome on my Android phone.

Yeah exactly. Patreon doesn't have to be an app. It would work just fine as a website or even as a progressive web app. There is absoluteluy no need for it except marketing and data collection from the user (the main reason that most platforms say they are 'better in our app'). It's not at all better for the user, it's better for the platform. They can access more data from the user which they can use for marketing. There's the rub. Even without Apple's advertiser ID they can still collect a ton more info than a PWA. It also stops the user from using adblockers in many cases.

The thing is: Patreon is a service that's meant to be paid by a small fee included in the donations. There should be no need for them to gather data on their users as well.